Jesus the Good Shepherd

1"Verily, verily, I say to you, he that enters not through the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. 2But he that enters through the door is shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the porter opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. 4When he drives out all his own, he goes on before them, and the sheep follow him; because they know his voice. 5But a stranger they will in no wise follow, but will flee from him; because they know not the voice of strangers." 6This parable spake Jesus to them; but they understood not what things they were which He spake to them.

7Jesus, therefore, said to them again, "Verily, verily, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All who came before Me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them. 9I am the door; through Me if any one enter, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came, that they may have life, and that they may have it abundantly.

11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his soul for the sheep. 12The hireling, who also is not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholds the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees (and the wolf seizes them, and scatters them); 13because he is a hireling, and cares not for the sheep. 14I am the Good Shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me, 15even as the Father knoweth Me, and I know the Father; and I lay down My soul for the sheep. 16And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and they shall become one flock, one Shepherd. 17On this account My Father loveth Me, because I lay down My soul, that I may take it again. 18No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it again. This commandment I received from My Father.

19There arose again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20And many of them said, "He hath a demon, and is mad; why do ye hear Him?" 21Others said, "These are not the sayings of a demoniac. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"

Jesus at the Feast of Dedication

22Then occurred the feast of dedication in Jerusalem; and it was winter; 23and Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon's porch. 24The Jews, therefore, came round about Him, and said to Him, "How long dost Thou hold us in suspense? If Thou art the Christ, tell us plainly." 25Jesus answered them, "I told you, and ye did not believe: the works that I do in My Father's name, these testify concerning Me. 26But ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep. 27My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28and I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish, nor shall any one snatch them out of My hand. 29My Father, Who hath given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30I and the Father are One."

31The Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 32Jesus answered them, "Many good works did I show you from My Father; for which of those works do ye stone Me?" 33The Jews answered Him, "For a good work we stone Thee not, but for blasphemy, and because, Thou, being a Man, makest Thyself God!" 34Jesus answered them, "Has it not been written in your law, 'I said, ye are gods?' 35If He called them gods to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36say ye of Him Whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest, because I said, I am the Son of God? 37If I do not the works of My Father, believe Me not; 38but, if I do them, even though ye believe not Me, believe the works; that ye may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father." 39They were seeking, therefore, again to seize Him; and He went forth out of their hands.

John’s Testimony Confirmed

40And He went away again beyond the Jordan unto the place where John was at first immersing; and there He abode. 41And many came to Him, and said, "John, indeed, did no sign, but all things, whatsoever John spake concerning this Man, were true." 42And many believed on Him there.